Category: CropConnect 14

Flax — it’s beautiful to look at in the field, healthy to eat in your cereal but a pain in the butt to coax real production out of. Or is it? Dr. Paul Dribnenki, a former flax breeder and current consultant, challenges farmers to begin really understanding and managing this crop to get the most out… Read More

It’s time for another edition of AgNerds, where Shaun Haney and someone else equally tech-savvy talk about gizmos, gadgets and other techie things! And, yes, for this edition we do indeed have the one and only Peter Gredig back in the saddle/tradeshow chair to talk about, of all things, the cloud. The what, you say?… Read More

A basic crop budget will tally up fixed and variable costs to compare to average or projected crop prices, yes, but how do you account for some non-cash pros and cons of growing a particular crop? These benefits can range from soil management, to ease of seeding, to herbicide resistance management and more. Each of… Read More

Who doesn’t want some diversity in the crop rotation? If you’re the kind of farmer who likes to grow smaller acreage crops and lock down contracts with end-users, hemp may be for you. While this towering, leafy plant may be recognizable for its uncanny resemblance to that other crop that shall remain nameless, hemp is… Read More

What’s the yield penalty for planting soybeans in Manitoba in early June? What’s the penalty for planting into cold soil? How much damage will I do if I roll the seedlings early in the morning? Brent VanKoughnet, lead with Agri-Skills, has been running trials for the last two years to answer these and more questions… Read More

As the Olympics move into the second week and come to a close, you’re going to get your fill of epic wrap-ups…this is not one of them. As is the Real Agriculture tradition, Shaun Haney and Lyndsey Smith sit down at the end of a conference and share the highlights (and sometimes lowlights) of the… Read More

There’s a need in the Middle East for many of the crops that Canada grows. The area is production light and demand heavy — the city of Dubai, specifically, is also a major trading and processing hub for several other markets. But getting volumes of grain to the region is challenging and expensive. Of course,… Read More

Biotechnology’s fatal flaw, says Mark Lynas, was that the first well-know trait associated with the technology was herbicide resistance. First impressions matter, and on that account, genetic modification and the resulting GMOs failed miserably. Lynas, a UK-based environmentalist and former anti-biotech activist, says that GMOs’ bad publicity needs to move past this tough start and… Read More

At CropConnect 2014 I ran into Brad Ewankiw who is working with FMC in Manitoba. Brad and I chatted about FMC, the potential growth in flax acres for 2014 and his first impressions of CropConnect 2014 in Winnipeg. I have known Brad for quite some time and its great to finally get him on… Read More

As crop prices fall and margins tighten, every farmer is looking for an edge — whether a bump in production or more efficient use of inputs. The increased pressure to scratch out a profit takes extra time and effort on planning and management. Deciding on where to focus that extra time and effort is the… Read More

Sunflowers aren’t just one of the prettiest crops to grow, they’re also an increasingly attractive cropping option for 2014 for some areas. While still a small acreage area crop in Manitoba, both oil and confection sunflowers can be a profitable option and one with several benefits that go beyond a basic crop budget. That’s the… Read More

How much nitrogen (N) does a corn crop really need? Are split applications the way to go? What’s the biggest risk of N loss in a Western Canadian crop setting? As King Corn marches north and west, these are the questions that need answers if you’re going to go from being a farmer who grows… Read More

Stuck in some pricey land rent agreements? Worried that falling crop prices can support recent land payments? You’re not alone. Merle Good, farm business consultant and farm succession expert, is set to present at the very first CropConnect conference set for February 18 and 19, 2014 at Winnipeg, Man. In the audio interview below, Good… Read More